Americium,plutonium and uranium contamination and speciation in well waters,streams and atomic lakes in the Sarzhal region of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site,Kazakhstan

New data are reported on the concentrations, isotopic composition and speciation of americium, plutonium and uranium in surface and ground waters in the Sarzhal region of the Semipalatinsk Test Site, and an adjacent area including the settlement of Sarzhal. The data relate to filtered water and suspended particulate from (a) streams originating in the Degelen Mountains, (b) the Tel′kem 1 and Tel′kem 2 atomic craters, and (c) wells on farms located within the study area and at Sarzhal. The measurements show that ²⁴¹Am, ^239,240Pu and ²³⁸U concentrations in well waters within the study area are in the range 0.04–87 mBq dm⁻³, 0.7–99 mBq dm⁻³, and 74–213 mBq dm⁻³, respectively, and for ²⁴¹Am and ^239,240Pu are elevated above the levels expected solely on the basis of global fallout. Concentrations in streams sourced in the Degelen Mountains are similar, while concentrations in the two water-filled atomic craters are somewhat higher. Suspended particulate concentrations in well waters vary considerably, though median values are very low, at 0.01 mBq dm⁻³, 0.08 mBq dm⁻³ and 0.32 mBq dm⁻³ for ²⁴¹Am, ^239,240Pu and ²³⁸U, respectively. The ²³⁵U/²³⁸U isotopic ratio in almost all well and stream waters is slightly elevated above the ‘best estimate’ value for natural uranium worldwide, suggesting that some of the uranium in these waters is of test-site provenance. Redox analysis shows that on average most of the plutonium present in the microfiltered fraction of these waters is in a chemically reduced form (mean 69%; 95% confidence interval 53–85%). In the case of the atomic craters, the proportion is even higher. As expected, all of the americium present appears to be in a reduced form. Calculations suggest that annual committed effective doses to individual adults arising from the daily ingestion of these well waters are in the range 11–42 μSv (mean 21 μSv). Presently, the ground water feeding these wells would not appear to be contaminated with radioactivity from past underground testing in the Degelen Mountains or from the Tel′kem explosions.     

藻型湖泊大量藻类衰亡后致嗅物的分析以及水质变化的研究

藻类大量死亡后极易产生致嗅物.我们模拟了藻类的生长死亡过程,观测除藻后水体理化性质和生物性质的改变情况以及致嗅物的成分及浓度,以确定致嗅物质产生的途径.由于藻类死亡后细胞解体,藻类细胞中的氮、磷物质释放到水体中,导致水体的富营养化程度反而升高,而叶绿素-a也呈现下降趋势,整个试验过程后期溶解氧为0,水体产生嗅味物质,可采用吹扫捕集/固相微萃取—气相色谱—质谱法和顶空固相微萃取气质联用法分析致嗅物质.实验证明,当藻型湖泊的藻类被基本去除后,整个水体的初级生产力受到严重的破坏,威胁到水生态系统的安全性,可导致水体进一步恶化.     

高原环境对直升机旋翼性能的影响分析

针对高原环境直升机旋翼性能的估算,建立了一个基于自由涡理论的旋翼尾迹模型,并推导了旋翼拉力和功率的计算方法。以UH-60黑鹰直升机为算例,分别计算了其在海平面及高原环境的旋翼性能,探讨了海拔高度对直升机旋翼性能的影响规律。计算结果表明,高原环境的气候条件对直升机旋翼性能有显著影响,旋翼拉力较海平面环境减小约30%。     

Organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in fish from lakes of the Tibetan Plateau and the implications

High mountains may play significant roles in the global transport of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This work aims to investigate the levels, patterns and distribution of semi-volatile organoclorine pollutants and to improve the understanding of the long-range atmospheric transport and fate of contaminants on the Tibetan Plateau. A total of 60 fish samples were collected from eight lakes located between 2813 and 4718 m above sea level across the Plateau. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were measured in fish muscle. The results showed that concentrations of DDT, HCH and HCB were comparable to or lower than those found in remote mountains of Europe, Canada and US, while PCB concentrations in fish were, on average, about 4-150 times lower on Tibet than at other mountain areas. The transport and fate of contaminants in the Plateau are significantly influenced by the unique climatological and meteorological conditions, particularly by the summer Indian monsoon and winter westerly jet stream.     

Hydrological Controls and Freshening in Meromictic Soap Lake,Washington, 1939-20021

Kallis, Jahn, Leo Bodensteiner, and Anthony Gabriel, 2010. Hydrological Controls and Freshening in Meromictic Soap Lake, Washington, 1939-2002. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(4): 744-756. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2010.00446.x Abstract: The chemically stratified layer of naturally formed meromictic lakes exhibits unusual and often extreme physical and chemical conditions that have resulted in the evolution of uniquely adapted species. The Columbia Basin Irrigation Project appears to have had a marked effect on the hydrology of Soap Lake, a meromictic lake in the Grand Coulee of central Washington. The relation of hydrology to salinity was assessed by analyzing water budgets before and after the introduction of the irrigation project. Before irrigation, water gains were balanced by losses; after irrigation began groundwater gains approximately doubled. To manage lake levels and reduce groundwater influx, wells were installed to intercept groundwater. Although the hydrological cycle has been restored to pre-irrigation conditions, the meromictic character of the lake continues to change. Interception wells remove 10 to 16 Mm³ of groundwater annually, but influx continues based on change in the monimolimnion. From 1958 to 2003 the chemocline descended 1.1 m and the volume of the monimolimnion from 698,000 m³ to 114,000 m³. Annual loss of volume is occurring at a rate of 1.9% since 1958. Although groundwater interception wells are maintaining the volume of the entire lake, the recession of the chemocline indicates that conditions that have maintained meromixis at Soap Lake are currently not in equilibrium.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and mercury in fish from lakes of the Tibetan Plateau

High mountains may act as cold traps for globally transported persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury (Hg). In the present study, 60 fish samples were collected from eight alpine lakes across the Tibetan Plateau. Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), total mercury (HgT) and methyl mercury (MeHg) were quantified in the fish muscle tissues to improve the understanding of pollution status and factors regulating the transport and fate of these contaminants on the Plateau. The results showed that lake-averaged ∑₁₄PBDEs concentration was between 0.09 ng g⁻¹ dw and 4.32 ng g⁻¹ dw, which was lower than those reported for European mountains. The total mercury concentration in individual fish ranged from 243 to 2384 ng g⁻¹ dw, and that of MeHg from 131 to 1610 ng g⁻¹ dw, which is much higher than those reported in other mountain fish. The spatial variation of PBDEs and mercury in the Plateau is largely controlled by the specific meteorological patterns.     

低纬高原大气电场特征及其在预警中的应用

通过对2006年7月- 2007年6月云南地闪定位网探测资料和玉溪大气电场仪资料分析,研究了高原晴天大气电场和雷暴天气过程的电场演变特征.结果表明:高原晴天大气电场具有明显的日变化和月变化特征.低纬高原地区雷暴云具有偶极性和三极性两种结构,但大多数雷暴具有偶极性电荷结构,不同电荷结构的雷暴云的放电特征不同,偶极性时主要为负地闪,地闪活动较活跃;三极性时主要是正地闪,地闪活动较少.根据雷暴云近地面电场变化特征,探讨了大气电场仪预警地闪的方法,首次提出极性变化预警法,其命中率和提前预警时间都明显优于阈值预警法.     

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROCEDURE FOR HYDRAULIC DESTRATIFICATION SYSTEMS IN SMALL PONDS,LAKES, OR RESERVOIRS FOR WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT1

ABSTRACT: Forced artificial mixing of temperature-stratified ponds, or small lakes or reservoirs, by liquid jets can enhance water quality and can also be energy efficient. Based on previous studies of jet mixing mechanics of stratified water bodies, a conceptual design approach is presented. The main “operational” and “system” design parameters are considered in the proposed method. Using minimization of a total cost estimate as a criterion, an iterative method for the selection of the number and size of the jets is developed and illustrated.     

DISTRIBUTION AND GRAIN-SIZE PARTITIONING OF METALS IN BOVFOM SEDIMENTS OF AN EXPERIMENTALLY ACIDIFIED WISCONSIN LAKE1

ABSTRACT: A study of concentrations and distribution of major and trace elements in surficial bottom sediments of Little Rock Lake in northern Wisconsin included examination of spatial variation and grain-size effects. No significant differences with respect to metal distribution in sediments were observed between the two basins of the lake, despite the experimental acidification of one of the basins from pH 6.1 to 4.6. The concentrations of most elements in the lake sediments were generally similar to soil concentrations in the area and were well below sediment quality criteria. Two exceptions were lead and zinc, whose concentrations in July 1990 exceeded the criteria of 50 μg/g and 100 μg/g, respectively, in both littoral and pelagic sediments. Concentrations of some elements, particularly Cu, Pb, and Zn, increased along transects from nearshore to midlake, following a similar gradient of sedimentary organic carbon. In contrast, Mn, Fe, and alkali/alkaline-earth elements were at maximum concentrations in nearshore sediments. These elements are less likely to partition to organic particles, and their distribution is more dependent on mineralogical composition, grain size, and other factors. Element concentrations varied among different sediment grain-size fractions, although a simple inverse relation to grain size was not observed. Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn were more concentrated in a grain-size range 20–60 tm than in either the very fine or the coarse fractions, possibly because of the aggregation of smaller particles cemented together by organic and Fe/Mn hydrous-oxide coatings.     

NEBRASKA'S SANDHILLS LAKES: A HYDROGEOLOGIC OVERVIEW1

ABSTRACT: Lakes, marshes and wet meadows occur in the broad, flat, interdune valleys of the Nebraska Sandhills, a vegetation-stabilized dune field underlain by sediments containing an enormous supply of groundwater. Hydrologic, geologic and possibly climatologic factors influence the chemical quality of lake water. Central and eastern lakes generally are in connection with the groundwater reservoir. The hydrologic nature of western lakes and the cause of their high alkalinity is not fully understood. Lakes in close proximity may vary in both their chemical characteristics and in the degree to which they change in size and depth over time. Climatic, hydrogeologic and natural lake-aging processes of accumulation of organics appear to be primarily responsible for lake-size variations.